Community service
Community service
Two days at Open Hands Children's Home in Kajang, completing a practical project the home has asked for, plus games and crafts with the kids.
Amana Expeditions · Malaysia
Lost in Paradise
A six-day trip to Malaysia for Year 11 and 12 students, 12–19 January 2027. Community service, visits with local businesses and government bodies, rainforest learning, and a couple of big days out.
In partnership with Project You
Boarding pass
AUS
Australia
KUL
Kuala Lumpur
Expedition: Lost in Paradise
Depart
12 Jan 2027
Return
19 Jan 2027
Passengers
Year 11 & 12 students
Seats
30 only
- Where
- Kuala Lumpur region, Malaysia
- When
- 12–19 January 2027
- Who
- Year 11 & 12 students
- Spots
- 30 places only
The trip
What students will do
The programme is built around four strands, two days each, spread across the week so no two days in a row feel the same. Students stay together in the city, with private transport to every activity.
Business & government
Business & government
Visits with local businesses and government bodies, hearing how organisations in Malaysia are run and asking the people who lead them about their work, their decisions and their careers.
Nature
Rainforest & wetlands
Birdwatching at Putrajaya Wetlands and a guided walk through the FRIM rainforest, learning about tropical ecosystems and conservation.
Adventure
Highlands & go-karts
A guided hike and an afternoon at Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park in the highlands, and supervised go-kart racing on the final morning.
What they come home with
A community project they finished
A real, practical contribution to a children's home, planned with its staff and handed over on the final visit.
A look inside business and government
Real conversations with business and government leaders about how organisations work, and the careers behind them.
Teamwork and independence
Six days of working together, problem solving and looking after themselves away from home.
Something worth writing about
Service, skills and cultural experience that stand out on job, scholarship and university applications.
Day by day
The itinerary
We touch down in Malaysia on the evening of Tuesday 12 January and land back home around 10am on Tuesday 19 January.
- ArriveTue 12 Jan
Touch down in Malaysia
- Evening
- We land late, transfer to our accommodation in the city, have dinner together and rest up.
- Day 1Wed 13 Jan
Business & wetlands
Business & government- Morning
- Welcome briefing, then our first visit with a local business: how it started, how it runs and what it takes to lead it.
- Afternoon
- Lunch, then guided learning at Putrajaya Wetlands: birdwatching, habitats and water management.
- Evening
- Dinner and a short group reflection.
- Day 2Thu 14 Jan
Community service
Community service- Morning
- First visit to Open Hands Children's Home, Kajang. Briefing from staff, then we start a practical project for the home.
- Afternoon
- Lunch, then crafts, learning activities and team games with the children.
- Evening
- Back to base for dinner and reflection.
- Day 3Fri 15 Jan
Genting Highlands
Adventure- Morning
- Early start for the highlands and a guided nature hike on the Awana Trail.
- Afternoon
- Lunch and rides at Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park.
- Evening
- Dinner and back to base.
- Day 4Sat 16 Jan
Rainforest & government
Nature- Morning
- Guided rainforest walk at FRIM, Kepong: tropical trees, ecosystems and conservation.
- Afternoon
- Visit with a government body: how public services are planned and delivered, with time for students' questions.
- Evening
- Group debrief on what we've learned from our business and government visits, then dinner together.
- Day 5Sun 17 Jan
Giving back, round two
Community service- Morning
- Return to Open Hands to finish the project we started.
- Afternoon
- Activities with the children and handover of everything we've made.
- Evening
- Farewell dinner, student reflections and recognition.
- Day 6Mon 18 Jan
Go-karts & fly home
Adventure- Morning
- Supervised go-kart racing at Discovery Park, Gamuda Cove.
- Afternoon
- Lunch, pack up and transfer to the airport.
- Evening
- Fly home overnight.
- HomeTue 19 Jan
Back in Australia
- Morning
- We land back in Australia around 10am.
Itinerary is indicative. Venues and activities are subject to final booking, weather and operator requirements.
Safety & care
How we look after your child
Families trust Amana OSHC with their children every school day. We bring the same care, and the same people, overseas.
Amana staff throughout
Our own team travels with the group and supervises from the airport in Australia until we're home.
Specialist guides
Qualified guides and instructors run the hike, rainforest walk and karting.
Regular updates
Photos and updates home during the trip, and a team you can reach at any time.
Halal meals & medical needs
Every meal is halal. Allergies, medication and medical needs are planned with each family before we leave.
Our commitments
Before we leave, and every day we're away
- Every Amana staff member travelling holds a current Working With Children Check
- First-aid trained staff are with the group at all times
- A full risk assessment for the whole trip, completed before we leave
- Medical, dietary and emergency details collected for every student before departure
- Signed parent consent forms for the activities that need them
- Rooms separated by gender: female students with a female educator, male students with a male educator
- A contact number for families the whole time we're away, by phone or WhatsApp
- A student code of conduct, agreed by students and parents
- Travel insurance required for every student
Who's behind the trip
People you know, a partner who's done this before
Lost in Paradise is Amana's first expedition, and we're running it in partnership with Project You, who have already taken students on trips overseas, including to Dubai, and have run youth programmes in Malaysia, the UAE and Australia since 2018. You get the care of people you already know, and the experience of a team that has done this before.
Amana OSHC
We look after children across NSW and Victoria every school day. Our own staff travel with the group and stay with them from departure to return, so your child is with familiar faces the whole way.
Project You
A youth education organisation that has led student trips overseas, including to Dubai, and run programmes in schools, libraries and government initiatives since 2018. They bring the trip experience and on-the-ground support in Malaysia.
- 7,500+
- learners since 2018
- 3
- countries: UAE, Australia, Malaysia
- 2022
- impact presented at the UN General Assembly
From Project You's last trip
Students on the road in the UAE
What happens next
From interested to on the plane
Nothing is booked or paid until applications open. Here's every step, so you always know where things are.
- 1
Register your interest
Free, a minute to fill in, and no commitment.
- 2
Information pack & pricing
Sent to registered families first: full itinerary, costs, inclusions and policies.
- 3
Parent information night
Meet the team, ask anything, and hear exactly how the trip runs. Date to be announced.
- 4
Applications open
Registered families get first access to the 30 places.
- 5
Pre-departure briefing
Passports, packing, medical forms, phones, money and the code of conduct, covered with families and students.
- 6
Fly out 12 January 2027
Updates and photos home throughout, and back in Australia on 19 January.
FAQ
Questions from parents
The trip
Has Amana run a trip like this before?
Lost in Paradise is Amana's first expedition, and that's exactly why we're running it in partnership with Project You. They've taken students on trips overseas before, including to Dubai, and since 2018 have run youth programmes for more than 7,500 learners across the UAE, Australia and Malaysia. Amana staff your family already knows travel with the group and supervise throughout; Project You brings the programme experience and on-the-ground know-how in Malaysia.
Who is this trip for?
Lost in Paradise is for Year 11 and 12 students (around 16 to 17 years old). It suits young people who are curious, happy to work in a team and keen to try new things. Places are open to families in the Amana community and beyond.
What does the community service involve?
Two days at Open Hands Children's Home in Kajang. Students complete a practical project the home has asked for, like organising books or preparing learning resources, and run games, crafts and activities with the children, all directed by the home's staff.
What's a typical day like?
Most days have a morning activity, lunch together, an afternoon activity, then dinner and a short group reflection in the evening. We stay together in the city, with private group transport to every activity.
Do students need to be fit?
No special fitness is needed. There's a short guided hike and a rainforest walk, so a normal level of activity and comfortable walking shoes are enough.
Could the itinerary change?
The itinerary is indicative. Venues and activities are subject to final booking, weather and operator requirements. If anything changes, we'll swap in an activity of the same kind and let families know.
Safety & care
Who supervises the students?
Amana staff travel with the group and supervise from departure to return, with specialist guides and instructors for the hike, rainforest walk and karting. Full staffing details are in the information pack.
Will students ever be unsupervised?
No. Students are always with the group and our staff, including at the theme park and on the go-kart track.
What happens if my child is unwell or there's an emergency?
Our team carries every student's medical information and emergency contacts, and families are contacted straight away if anything happens. We plan medications and medical needs with each family before we leave.
Is the food halal? What about allergies?
Every meal is halal. Allergies and dietary needs are collected at registration and planned for with each venue in advance.
How will I stay in touch with my child?
Families get regular updates and photos throughout the trip, and our team can be reached by phone or WhatsApp the whole time we're away. We'll share the contact details and phone guidelines for students before departure.
Where will students sleep?
At our accommodation in the city, in rooms separated by gender. Female students are looked after by a female educator and male students by a male educator. Rooming details are shared before departure.
Getting ready
Does my child need a passport or visa?
Every student needs a passport valid for at least six months after the return date. Apply early, because processing can take weeks. Australian passport holders don't currently need a visa for a short visit to Malaysia, but entry requirements can change and we'll confirm them in the information pack.
Is travel insurance needed?
Yes, travel insurance is required for every student. The information pack explains what cover is needed and whether it's included.
How much spending money should they bring?
Most meals and all programme activities are planned for, so spending money is mainly for snacks and souvenirs. We'll suggest an amount in the information pack.
Is there a pre-departure information session?
Yes. Registered families are invited to an information session covering the itinerary, packing, safety, phones and money, with plenty of time for questions.
Spots & cost
How many spots are there?
30 in total. We're keeping the group small so every student gets the most out of the trip.
How does booking work?
Right now we're taking registrations of interest. Registered families hear first when applications open and are given first access to spots. Registering interest is not a booking and doesn't commit you to anything.
How much does it cost, and what's included?
Pricing, inclusions and payment details will be shared with registered families in the information pack, before applications open.
30 places only
Register your interest
We'll send you the information pack and pricing as soon as they're ready, and let you know before applications open.